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[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Teresa]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Employees panic at a local gas station... after sparks fly and a vehicle catches fire dangerously close to a main gas
pump.
(------------)
[Anchor=Teresa]
[ss=]
And, Ellen Qualls joins us from Richmond on the last day of the General Assembly's regular session.

[Sports-Head]

In sports, Notre Dame routs the Hokies at the Cassell the Radford men and women wrap up their regular season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Jeff Gordon will start on the pole for tomorrow's Dura Lube 400 at the Rock.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Sunshine today... will lead to some much needed rain as we head through tonight and tomorrow...details coming up....
[open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=@Roy1;]
[SUPER=@Leo1;]
[RUNS=:20]

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=N7 at 6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Listen I appreciate]
[sot INTERVIEWS 14:10:28]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: LISTEN, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND ALL THAT. BUT YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK I'M READY TO TALK ABOUT THIS UNTIL WE SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY DOES. RIGHT?))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=the legislature actually does, right?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Virginia's General Assembly is in a countdown to adjournment -- with NO new budget -- and a Governor about to issue an executive order to freeze some state spending.
(------------)

[XGR]

Late last night, Governor Jim Gilmore announced he'd call lawmakers back at the end of March for a special session to take up the budget again.
That's after House and Senate budget negotiators deadlocked over how quickly to phase out the car tax.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

Ellen Qualls is at the State Capitol tonight with the latest.
[Live=Ellen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Teresa, we have just a handful of bills left to work out before this session is history.
But the history they made this year is Republican gridlock.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's only the second year in]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Deeds; :15 -- QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=@Day; :19]
[SUPER=@Woodrum; :32]
[SUPER=@Shuler; :40]
[SUPER=@Byron; :55]
[SUPER=@Wilkins; 1:20]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=them from fulfilling that responsibility.]
(( It's only the second year in Virginia history with Republicans in charge of the House, Senate, and Governor's mansion.
But the Senators disagree on how to achieve Jim Gilmore's 1997 promise of NO car tax.
Democrats, of course, are piling on.
[sot INTERVIEWS 14:03:14]
((DEL. CREIGH DEEDS/D-BATH CO.: THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, WE DIDN'T GET THE BUSINESS DONE.))
[runs= 06 ]

[sot interviews 14:58:21 ]
((DEL. BARNIE DAY/D-PATRICK CO.: IT'S EXTRAORDINARY. I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THAT WE COME DOWN HERE AND WORK FOR 45 DAYS AND CAN'T GET A BUDGET OUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT SAYS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.))
[runs= 13]

[sot interviews 14:57:16 ]
((DEL. CHIP WOODRUM/D-ROANOKE: THIS SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I'M AFRAID, I'D BORROW A LINE FROM SHAKESPEARE, WAS FULL OF SOUND AND FURY BUT SIGNIFIED NOTHING.))
[runs= 09 ]

[sot INTERVIEWS 14:07:33]
((DEL. JIM SHULER/D-MONTGOMERY CO.: IT CERTAINLY PUTS OUR LOCALITIES AT A DISADVANTAGE IN TRYING TO PLANNING ON THEIR PART TOO, BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT TO COUNT ON AT THIS POINT IN TIME.))
[runs= 11 ]

Republicans are getting talking points to explain the failure.
[sot interviews 15:17:25 ]
((DEL. KATHY BYRON/R-LYNCHBURG: THE THING THAT I THINK HAS GIVEN US SUCH A ROADBLOCK...WHY WE'RE IN SUCH A DEADLOCK ABOUT THIS.))
[runs= 20 ]

The Speaker of the House says change is slow, and the most important may be a top to bottom study of every state agency that will happen this year.
[sot interviews 14:45:29 ]
((HOUSE SPEAKER VANCE WILKINS/(R) AMHERST: WE HAVE PROBABLY A DOZEN AGENCIES WORKING ON JOB TRAINING FOR INSTANCE. OKAY, IF THIS AGENCY GETS 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND IT TRAINS 50 PEOPLE, AND IT ONLY TRAINS TEN, WE MIGHT OUGHT TO PUT 20O THOUSAND OR 150 THOUSAND IN THE OTHER ONE AND ELIMINATE THE FIRST ONE.))
[runs= 14 ]

The blame game begins over the budget fiasco:
[sot interviews 14:11:09 ]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: IT'S THEIR DUTY TO AMEND THE BUDGET. SO FAR THE SENATE HAS PREVENTED THEM FROM FULFILLING THAT RESPONSIBILITY.))
[runs= 07 ]))
[Live=Ellen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

So we've been told by a source in the Gilmore administration that the Governor will issue an executive order tonight.
It will freeze some state spending in the existing two year budget, until lawmakers can get back for a special session at the end of March.
It is the Governor's hope that the Senate will go to a 70 percent phase-out on the car tax by then... or he could be left making up to 400 million dollars in perhaps painful cuts to the budget passed last year.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

[Other-Bills]

Among the bills which passed and appear likely to get the Governor's signature:
(+++++++++)
[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE ONE HERE]
-- a package of teen driving restrictions, raising the driving age by three months, and learner's permit age by six months.
-- a 24 hour wait for women having abortions to review state-supplied information on the procedure.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE TWO HERE]
Smaller changes were made to the death penalty in Virginia, letting some human biological evidence that could prove innocence be submitted later than 21 days after the original trial.
A bill mandating the Pledge of Allegiance in schools was watered down to let any student object for any reason.
(+++++++++)
[anchor=Teresa]
[graphic=Hold]

The Assembly killed a host of other high profile measures...
We'll have more on those tonight - on News 7 at 11.

[Gas-explosion]

An explosion at a Roanoke gas station sent employees running for cover.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

A maintenance vehicle at this Exxon on the corner of Hershberger and Plantation Roads caught fire around nine this morning.
The store's maintenance manager was emptying fuel from the engine when his air pump backfired.
The sparks caused the fuel in the engine to catch fire and explode.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[Tc:01:55:21 ]
[IN Q=So I run to the other]
((BRENDA NICHOLS/EXXON EMPLOYEE: SO I RUN TO THE OTHER PHONE AND DIALED 911 AND I SAYS, OUR GAS STATION'S ON FIRE AT PLANTATION AND, I COULDN'T GET IT OUT.. HERSHBERGER. IT SCARED US TO DEATH. AS SOON AS THEY SAID WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ON THEIR WAY, WE ALL TOOK OFF.))
[SUPER=01-Brenda Nichols/Exxon Employee]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=all took off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

No one was seriously hurt in the explosion.
The maintenance manager walked away with singed hair and eyebrows.
(------------)

[B'Burg-Police]

A Blacksburg police officer hit a house with her cruiser - and walked away uninjured.
Authorities say 26-year-old Officer Terri Johnson was responding to an assault call when she ran off the road, hit two telephone poles, and then crashed into a brick wall of a house.
The two residents of the house were upstairs at the time, and were not hurt.
Damage to the house is an estimated ten-thousand-dollars, the car is a total loss.
An investigation into the crash is continuing.

[81-Folo]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
Traffic is still slow- moving across Buffalo Creek bridge in Rockbridge County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Yesterday;]
V-DOT says it will remain that way, at least, through Monday.
Right now-- only one lane is open.
[SUPER=04-Thursday;]
Crews are working to repair a concrete deck damaged during this week's pileup.... when several vehicles caught fire.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS -- WILLIAM BYRD]
(([tc:03:15:38]
((WILLIAM BIRD CHEERLEADERS: WILLIAM BIRD CHEERLEADERS ARE NUMBER ONE... JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: I'M JENNIFER MIELE, UP NEXT ON NEWS 7, WE'LL GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS OF CHEERLEADING.))))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=TO THE BUSINESS OF CHEERLEADING.]

[l'burg-college]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg College today named a new president... and he's no stranger to the business.
Doctor Kenneth R. Garren is the dean at Roanoke College.
He'll become the president of Lynchburg College on July 31st.
The administration at Roanoke College says Garren will be missed.

[Country-Store]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-50 1:51:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A country store now stands on a parcel of land that Botetourt residents fought to keep UN-developed.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
But the owners of Brugh's (brew's) Mill Country store say, since opening for business they haven't gotten any complaints.
The store sits off exit 156... next to Interstate 81.
The owners' family has roots in the Botetourt area... going back more than 200 years.
They say they were responsive to concerns that a new building may detract from the natural beauty of the land.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[01:58:34]
[IN Q=There's been some]
((DAVID RADER/BRUGH'S MILL COUNTRY STORE: THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE STORE WOULD FIT INTO THE AREA, IT BEING A RURAL AREA AND ALL, BUT WE DESIGNED THE BUILDING TO KIND OF FIT IN. SO EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.))
[SUPER=01-David Rader/Brugh's Mill Country Store]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=really happy with it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Store owners boast that Brugh's Mill is more than just a convenience store.
(////////SOT///////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[02:01:39]
((PENNY RADER/BRUGH'S MILL COUNTRY STORE: WE HAD THIS EXTRA SPACE HERE AND WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA SO PEOPLE IN THE AREA WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE 30 MINUTES INTO ROANOKE. THEY CAN COME HERE AND GET SOME GIFT IDEAS.))
[SUPER=01-Penny Rader/Brugh's Mill Country Store]
[RUNS=08 ]
(------------)
[vo-nat]
The store has been up and running for three weeks.
(--------------)

[Bike-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
A lawsuit involving a Montgomery County car dealership and one of its employees has been settled.
Today's Auto of Shawsville and John W- Smith will pay one point three million dollars to the family of a California woman killed while riding her bike.
Ann Neeley was pedaling down Route 460 in Montgomery County when she was struck from behind by a pickup truck.
Smith... an employee of the car dealership, was driving the truck while on the job.
The accident happened in the summer of '99.

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]

Forget cleaning house.
Some women in Roanoke decided to BUILD a house. Now the job is complete.
We'll show you.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And - if you think cheerleading is all fun and games - think again.
We'll tell you about the talent - hard work - and money that went into the teams fighting it out in a local competition, just ahead.
(----------------)

[Cheerleading]

Eight Cheerleading squads from across South Western Virginia battled it out for first place at North Side High School today.
To them, it's more than a sport, it's a job.
News 7's Jennifer Miele takes an inside look at what keeps cheerleaders on top of the game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound.. BYRD, TERRIERS, THIS ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Dooley/Salem Coach;:18 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Belinda West/Wm. Byrd Assistant Coach;:35]
[SUPER=01-Jeanie McDaniel/Blacksburg Coach;1:17]
[SUPER=@jennifer2;1:35]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=JM News 7, Roanoke.]
((
[tc:02:58:06]
((BYRD, TERRIES, THIS MEANS, WAR!))
[RUNS= 04]

Today's Cheerleading competition at Northside High School was nothing short of a war between rivals Lord Botetourt and William Byrd.
And this war costs a tank-full of time and money.
[NAT SOUND]
[TC:23:48:17]
((JENNIFER DOOLEY/SALEM COACH: THESE GIRLS, FOR THAT THREE MINUTES HAVE PRACTICED FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS.))
[RUNS= 04]

Like a well-oiled machine, the girls prepare for battle with one thing in mind.
[TC:03:05:43]
((STYLE, PRECISION, ALL THAT IT TAKES, THE INDIANS, FROM BLACKSBURG, WE'LL DOMINATE.))
[RUNS= 06]
[03:13:56]
((BELINDA WEST/WILLIAM BYRD ASSISTANT COACH: THEY'VE BEEN PRACTICING SIX DAYS A WEEK, PLUS GYMNASTICS IN THE EVENING. IS IT LIKE A JOB? YES, DEFINITELY.))
[RUNS= 08]

Uniforms cost between two and three thousand dollars.
And choreography and music for these three minute routines will run most squads just shy of 15-hundred bucks.
[tc:23:49:26]
((JENNIFER DOOLEY/SALEM COACH: THEY WORK ALL SUMMER SELLING ADS FOR THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM. FOOTBALL IN SALEM, IT'S EASY TO SELL ADS BECAUSE THE FANS ARE SO EXCITED.))
[RUNS= 09]
[tc:03:11:01]
((BELINDA WEST: WE HAVE A WONDERFUL BOOSTER CLUB, AND THEY WORK BINGO, DO 50-50'S, SELL PROMO ITEMS, AND USUALLY ON AN AVERAGE, WE SPEND ABOUT 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ON OUR CHEERLEADERS.))
[RUNS= 10]
[use this video here - 03:03:21]
This war doesn't end without injuries.
[tc:23:51:30]
((JEANIE MCDANIEL/BLACKSBURG COACH: BLACKSBURG COACH: A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND BRUISES, 12 ANKLE BRACES, A SPRAINED SHOULDER, A BAD BACK, WE HAVE A BACK BRACE.))
[RUNS= 11]
[NAT SOUND]
[RUNS= 06]

Lord Botetourt won this battle, William Byrd took second, and Blacksburg third.
Each squad will travel to Richmond to fight their next battle.... estimated cost... two weeks of daily two-hour practices, and another two grand.
So is it worth it?
All signs point to yes.
Jennifer Miele, News 7, Roanoke.))

[S-Dale]

Racing is still the farthest thing from the minds of most fans this weekend as they continue to deal with the passing a Dale Earnhardt a week ago in Daytona.
Mike Stevens has some thoughts from Rockingham from two men who knew Dale best.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Skinner/Earnhardt's Teammate; :22]
[SUPER=@mike2; :50]
[SUPER=01-Richard Childress/Earnhardt's Car Owner; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(---------------)
((` Fans have set up their own makeshift memorials to honor Dale Earnhardt all along Highway number one that runs parallel to the front straight of the North Carolina Motor Speedway.
There are small signs of Earnhardt's absence in the garage, but mainly in the hearts of his fellow competitors and teammates.
((MIKE SKINNER:))
((MICHAEL WALTRIP:))
It's hard for any of us to understand how these guys to get back on the track after Dale death and new revelation that his safety lap belt was mysteriously broken in two. But Dale's car owner and good friend says they are simply carrying on Earnhardt's wishes.
((RICHARD CHILDRESS:))
Dale Earnhardt recorded 3 of his 76 career wins at Rockingham. At the North Carolina Motor Speedway. Mike Stevens News 7 Sports.))

[S-Tech]

Virginia Tech's final game of the season was at the Cassell against 18-th ranked Notre Dame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Tech vs Notre Dame; :]

The Irish took the early lead.
But Tech's Carlton Carter knocks down this three pointer to make it 31 to 23.
Notre Dame comes right back though Troy Murphy pulls up and hits the jumper for a 10 point lead.
The Hokies trailed by 13 at the half but Carlos Dixon takes it to the hoop for the score to make it 49 to 34 in the second half.
[SUPER=33-Notre Dame#18/85/Virginia Tech/61/;]

Notre Dame answers taking it inside and Murphy gets the reverse jam and the Irish beat the Hokies 85 to 61.
(------------)

[S-Radford]

The Radford men and women's basketball teams will host the Big South tournament beginning at the Roanoke Civic Center with the Ladies first round games on Wednesday.
The men end the regular season with a 94 to 77 win over Liberty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Radford vs Liberty; :]

The win gives the Highlanders a first round Bye in the tournament.
Radford's Jason Williams would dominate all over the floor on this play he scores on the alley oop jam.
But the Flames would come right back Chris Caldwell with tthe score and Liberty trailed 44 to 32 at the half.
Liberty would close the gap to open the second half Phillip Wards hoop made it 56 to 51 Radford.
[SUPER=33-Radford/94/Liberty/77/;]

But the Highlanders didn't panic and Radford goes on to win the game 94 to 77.
(------------)

[S-Women]

The Lady Highlanders trying to pick up some momentum for the tournament
But regular season champion Liberty gets it inside to Merebeth Feenstra and she knocks down the easy basket for a 4 point lead.
Radford answers at the other end of the Floor as Catrice Morton takes it inside for the score.
[SUPER=33-Liberty/62/Radford/49/;]

But the Lady Falmes picked it up later in the second half and Liberty gets the 62 to 49 win.
(------------)

[S-ODAC]

Guilford had only appeared in the ODAC championship game once, before today's contest.
And the Quakers had never brought home the title.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Emory & Henry vs. Guilford;]

The Emory and Henry Wasps were the only obstacle standing in the way of Guilford.
The Quakers hit the defensive boards and turn the rebound into points. Amy Evans is all alone and takes it to the hoop for two points.
The Wasps tried to stay in the game with long range shooting. Kelly Smith pulls up and is all net for three.
[super=33-Emory & Henry/55/Guildford/64;]

Kate Goodman drives the lane and scores as the Quakers pull away to win their first ODAC title 64-55 over Emory and Henry.
(------------)

[SUPER=#555][2Habitat-House]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-51 1:46:10]
[GRAPHIC=Habitat for HUmanity]
Weeks of hard work paid off today for a group of local women and a family of five.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Habitat for Humanity's newest home on Gilmer Avenue in Roanoke was built exclusively by women.
The project took about 14 weeks to complete.
Organizers say it was a "win-win" situation for everyone involved...
(------------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[graphic=Hold]
especially the 25 women who rolled up their sleeves and went to work.
We'll have more on the newest Habitat House tonight on News 7 at 11.